Pink eye disease is at risk of spreading into an epidemic.

Increased in adults and children

On August 31, Ms. Mai Thi Anh Dao (residing in Thu Duc City, Ho Chi Minh City) brought her 3-year-old son to Children's Hospital 2 with swollen, red eyes and constant discharge. Four days before, the child had symptoms of discharge, red eyes, watery eyes and constant rubbing of the eyes. Although Ms. Dao regularly gave her child saline drops, the condition did not improve and showed signs of getting worse. After examination, the doctors determined that the child had conjunctivitis...

Dr. Nguyen Dinh Trung Chinh, ophthalmologist, Interdisciplinary Department, Children's Hospital 2, said that at this time, the hospital regularly receives many children with acute conjunctivitis, including children with bleeding symptoms. Most children with conjunctivitis recover quickly after being treated according to the doctor's instructions, but if not treated or treated late, it can cause complications such as corneal ulcers, which greatly affect vision.

Doctors at Children's Hospital 2, HCMC examine a child with pink eye.

Not only children, many adults have also suffered from pink eye recently. Doctor Nguyen Thanh Luan, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, informed that the number of pink eye cases coming to the hospital for examination has shown signs of increasing; on average, each doctor examines 15-20 cases, while before that, there were only a few cases.

At the Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital, the number of patients coming to see a doctor for pink eye has also increased in recent days, many cases requiring emergency treatment due to complications. Ms. Le Thuy Van (47 years old, residing in District 3, Ho Chi Minh City) said that a few days ago, her eyes were swollen and painful, with discharge, even though she used eye drops and salt water, it did not improve. To avoid affecting her work, Ms. Van went to the Eye Hospital for definitive treatment. Here, the doctors concluded that she had acute conjunctivitis and required long-term treatment.

Increased refractive errors in children

Along with pink eye, in the past 3 months, Ho Chi Minh City Eye Hospital has received many children coming for refractive error examination. Before the new school year, the number of children coming for refractive error examination increased by 20%-30% compared to normal days. When seeing children often squinting, writhing or tilting their heads when looking, not seeing clearly the writing on the board, writing wrong words or sitting close to the edge of the notebook, skipping lines or fumbling when reading, often having headaches, tired eyes, watery eyes, parents need to take their children to the doctor for accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Easily spread into epidemic

According to Dr. Nguyen Thanh Luan, there are many causes of pink eye, of which viruses are the most common. Cases of pink eye caused by viruses often have symptoms: watery eyes, clear discharge, swollen eyelids, and grittiness. In addition, some people may have eye pain caused by bacteria such as Haemophilus Influenzae and Staphylococcus, causing watery eyes, swollen eyelids, and yellow or green discharge. In addition, some people may be allergic to pet hair, pollen, dust, etc. Pink eye is easily transmitted in many ways: by direct contact with eye secretions through towels, clothes, swimming pool water, etc., or through the hands of an infected person.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Bach Tuyet, Children's Hospital 2, in young children, pink eye can be accompanied by symptoms of rhinitis, pharyngitis, respiratory tract infection, mild fever... In particular, the disease can appear pseudomembrane causing bleeding, making the disease take longer to heal. The disease usually starts a few hours to a few days after exposure to the source of the disease. Initially, the symptoms of the disease often appear in one eye, then spread to both eyes with manifestations such as: conjunctival congestion, gritty eyes like there is sand in the eyes, stimulating tearing, eyes with a lot of discharge, difficulty opening the eyes when waking up.

“Currently, the weather with high humidity is often a favorable condition for viruses and bacteria to grow and develop faster, so pink eye often occurs during this time, especially in the transition from summer to autumn. When having pink eye, some people do not follow the doctor's instructions or self-treat, causing the disease to progress more seriously and become more complicated, causing some dangerous complications,” warned Dr. Nguyen Thi Bach Tuyet.

Experts note that folk methods such as steaming with medicinal water, applying lemon drops, applying aloe vera leaves or betel leaves to treat pink eye can cause swelling and burning of the eyes. When suffering from pink eye, patients need to see an eye specialist and follow the doctor's treatment instructions.

To prevent and prevent disease transmission, doctors recommend that people should use saline solution (0.9% Sodium Chloride) to wash their eyes every day after going outside or swimming; limit rubbing their eyes, nose, and mouth; wash their hands regularly with soap and hand sanitizer. At school, work, home, etc., it is necessary to avoid direct and close contact with sick people, maintain personal hygiene, especially hands; isolate sick people, use separate tools such as towels, wash basins, eyeglasses, pillowcases, etc.

Hanoi: Pink eye epidemic increases abnormally

According to Dr. Luu Quynh Anh, Deputy Head of the Ophthalmology Department, National Children's Hospital, pink eye often appears in spring and summer and is easily spread into an epidemic. However, at present, the pink eye epidemic is increasing abnormally, with many children suffering from the disease having dangerous complications. In the past month, the Ophthalmology Department of the Hospital has continuously received more than 50 children/day with acute conjunctivitis, of which up to 20% have severe complications.

NGUYEN QUOC

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/benh-dau-mat-do-co-nguy-co-lan-thanh-dich-post704325.html